Events for february: February 2023 Holidays — Special Days & Observances

February 2023 Holidays — Special Days & Observances

After you’ve enjoyed your January holidays, it’s time to flip the calendar to one of the shortest (yet jam packed) months of the year. February is probably most known for Valentine’s Day, but before you go digging for the heart-shaped chocolate, the month boasts popular holidays like Groundhog Day and even the Super Bowl…if you want to consider that a holiday. The first of the month also kicks off Black History Month, which is the perfect time to celebrate Black culture, heritage and American history.

With lesser known holidays celebrating things like your beloved pets, pizza and even having ice cream for breakfast, it may be a quick month, but there’s plenty of excuses to celebrate in those 28 (29 on a leap year) days. So, here’s what you need to know about the February holidays taking place in 2023, which is not a leap year. You have until 2024 to worry about fitting an extra day in.

February Monthly Observances

  • Black History Month
  • American Heart Month
  • Canned Food Month
  • Great American Pie Month
  • National Bird Feeding Month
  • National Cherry Month
  • National Grapefruit Month
  • National Children’s Dental Health Month
  • National Self Check Month
  • National Grapefruit Month
  • National Hot Breakfast Month
  • National Library Lover’s Month
  • National Snack Food Month
  • National Embroidery Month
  • National Weddings Month

GEORGE SHELLEY/GETTY IMAGES

February Weekly Observances

  • Week One — Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week
  • Week Two — National Flirting Week, Jell-O Week, Freelance Writers Appreciation Week, Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Week, National Marriage Week
  • Week Three — Random Acts of Kindness Week
  • Week Four — National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

February Special Days

  • February 1 — Lunar New Year, National Baked Alaska Day, National Dark Chocolate Day, National Freedom Day, National Serpent Day
  • February 2 — Groundhog Day, National Tater Tot Day, National Girls and Women in Sports Day
  • February 3 — National Golden Retriever Day, National Carrot Cake Day, National Women Physicians Day, Optimist Day
  • February 4 — Bubble Gum Day, National Homemade Soup Day, National Thank a Mail Carrier Day, National Wear Red Day
  • February 5 — Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, National Weatherperson’s Day, World Nutella Day
  • February 6 — National Chopsticks Day, National Frozen Yogurt Day
  • February 7 — National Fettuccine Alfredo Day, National Send a Card to a Friend Day
  • February 8 — National Kite Flying Day, National Boy Scouts Day
  • February 9 — National Pizza Day, National Toothache Day, National Cut the Cord Day
  • February 10 — National Umbrella Day
  • February 11 — National Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day, National Make a Friend Day, National Inventors’ Day, National Peppermint Patty Day
  • February 12 — National Plum Pudding Day
  • February 13 — Superbowl Sunday, Galentine’s Day, Global Movie Day, National Tortellini Day, National Cheddar Day, World Radio Day
  • February 14 — Valentine’s Day, World Marriage Day, National Organ Donor Day, National Cream-Filled Chocolates Day, National Ferris Wheel Day, National Clean Out Your Computer Day

KAT TEUTSCH

  • February 15 — Singles Awareness Day, Susan B Anthony Day, National Gumdrop Day
  • February 16 — Fat Tuesday, National Almond Day, National Do A Grouch a Favor Day
  • February 17 — Ash Wednesday, National Random Acts of Kindness Day, National Cabbage Day
  • February 18 — National Caregivers Day, National Drink Wine Day, National Battery Day, No One Eats Alone Day, Pluto Day
  • February 20 — National Love Your Pet Day, National Comfy Day, National Muffin Day, National Cherry Pie Day, World Day of Social Justice
  • February 21 — Presidents Day, National Sticky Bun Day
  • February 22 — National Margarita Day, World Spay Day, National Cook a Sweet Potato Day
  • February 23 — National Banana Bread Day
  • February 24 — National Tortilla Chip Day, National Chili Day, National Toast Day
  • February 25 — National Chocolate Covered Nut Day, National Clam Chowder Day
  • February 26 — National Tell a Fairy Tale Day, National Pistachio Day
  • February 27 — National Strawberry Day, National Polar Bear Day
  • February 28 – National Chocolate Soufflé Day, National Tooth Fairy Day
  • February 29 — Leap Day, National Time Refund Day (not until 2024)

Have a great month!

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Martha Sorren

Martha Sorren is a freelance writer for Bustle, Refinery29, Woman’s Day, and INSIDER.  

February Holidays and Observances

National days to celebrate this month

By

Carol Bainbridge

Carol Bainbridge

Carol Bainbridge is a freelance writer covering lifestyle and holiday observances for The Spruce. She’s currently an adjunct professor at IU Northwest.

Learn more about The Spruce’s
Editorial Process

Updated on 03/27/22

Fact checked by

Emily Estep

Fact checked by
Emily Estep

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

Learn more about The Spruce’s
Editorial Process

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

In This Article

  • Notable February Holidays

  • Daily Observances

  • Weekly Observances

  • Monthly Observances

In the depths of winter, you may be looking at the calendar of observances for opportunities for special activities. Besides Valentine’s Day and Black History Month, there are days devoted to emotional health, physical activities, and wellness challenges—all of which provide opportunities to expand understanding while having fun learning.

Your local community centers, health organizations, and schools may have events in coordination with some of these special days and observances.

Notable February Holidays

Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday February 12
George Washington’s Birthday February 22
Presidents Day February 17
Valentine’s Day February 14

28 Reasons to Celebrate in February

Here are official and unofficial days to celebrate this month.

February Daily Holidays and Observances

  • February 1: National Freedom Day, National Dark Chocolate Day, National Serpent Day, National Baked Alaska Day, National Get Up Day
  • February 2: Groundhog Day, National Hedgehog Day, National Tater Tot Day, National Ukulele Day
  • February 3: Four Chaplains Day, National Missing Persons Day, National Carrot Cake Day, National Golden Retriever Day
  • February 4: USO Day, World Cancer Day, National Homemade Soup Day
  • February 5: National Weatherperson’s Day, World Nutella Day
  • February 6: National Lame Duck Day, Pay a Compliment Day, National Frozen Yogurt Day
  • February 7: National Send a Card to a Friend Day, Rose Day, National Fettuccine Alfredo Day, National Bubble Gum Day* (first Friday), National Wear Red Day* (first Friday), Give Kids a Smile Day* (first Friday)
  • February 8: Take Your Child to the Library Day* (first Saturday), National Kite Flying Day
  • February 9, National Pizza Day, World Marriage Day* (second Sunday), Opera Day, Read in the Bathtub Day
  • February 10: National Umbrella Day, National Clean Out Your Computer Day* (second Monday)
  • February 11: National Inventors’ Day, National Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day, National Make a Friend Day, Get Out Your Guitar Day, International Day of Women and Girls in Science
  • February 12: Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday, International Darwin Day
  • February 13: World Radio Day, Galentine’s Day, National Tortellini Day
  • February 14: Valentine’s Day, National [Organ] Donor Day
  • February 15: National Gumdrop Day, Susan B. Anthony Day, Singles Awareness Day
  • February 16: Do a Grouch a Favor Day, National Almond Day
  • February 17: Presidents’ Day* (third Monday)
  • February 18: National Battery Day, National Drink Wine Day
  • February 19: National Chocolate Mint Day
  • February 20: National Love Your Pet Day, National Muffin Day
  • February 21: International Mother Language Day, National Sticky Bun Day, National Caregivers Day* (third Friday)
  • February 22: George Washington’s Birthday, Be Humble Day, World Thinking Day, National Margarita Day
  • February 23: National Banana Bread Day
  • February 24: National Tortilla Chip Day
  • February 25: National Chocolate Covered Nut Day, Let’s All Eat Right Day, National Clam Chowder Day, World Spay Day* (last Tuesday)
  • February 26: Tell a Fairy Tale Day, National Pistachio Day
  • February 27: No Brainer Day, International Polar Bear Day
  • February 28: National Public Sleeping Day, National Chocolate Souffle Day
  • February 29: Leap Day (every four years), Rare Disease Day* (either 28 or 29 depending on year)

How Leap Day Balances Our Calendar

Every four years we have a Leap Year, which means a day is added to the end of February (the shortest month) called Leap Day. The extra day is a corrective measure that synchronizes the calendar with the earth’s almost year-long orbit around the sun. Without Leap Day, a few hours would cumulatively disappear every year, eventually throwing off our calendar and seasons.

February Weekly Holidays and Observances

  • Children’s Authors and Illustrators Week (first week)
  • Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Week (second week)
  • International Flirting Week (second week)
  • Freelance Writers Appreciation Week (second week)
  • Jell-O Week (second week)
  • Random Acts of Kindness Week (third week)
  • National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (fourth week)

February Monthly Holidays and Observances

  • American Heart Month
  • Black History Month
  • Canned Food Month
  • Great American Pie Month
  • Library Lovers Month
  • National Bird Feeding Month
  • National Cherry Month
  • National Children’s Dental Health Month
  • National Embroidery Month
  • National Grapefruit Month
  • National Hot Breakfast Month
  • National Snack Food Month
  • National Pet Dental Health Month

*Denotes that date changes each year.

March Holidays and Observances

Historical events that took place in February

All events

February 1

In 1816 the first secret society of the future Decembrists, the Union of Salvation, was founded in St. Petersburg

In 1851 the first submarine was tested in the port of the German city of Kiel

In 1859 Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna was the first in Russia to set about emancipating its 15,000 serfs

American film director John Ford was born in 1895

In 1920, the first armored car was presented to the public in the American city of St. Paul, Minnesota

In 1921, the writing group “Serapion Brothers” was created in Russia

In 1931, Boris Yeltsin was born in the village of Butka, Sverdlovsk Region

Anatoly Vasilievich Firsov was born in 1941

Yuri Eduardovich Loza was born in 1954 in Sverdlovsk

Russian rock artist and poet Konstantin Nikolsky was born in 1968

2 February

In 962 John XII laid the imperial crown on Otto I the Great

In 1719 the first Russian Field Marshal Count Boris Sheremetev died

In 1831 Ivan Rimsky-Korsakov died at the age of 78

B 90702 Alexander Dumas entered the former Iron Mask prisoner’s cell

Mikhail Vasilyevich Frunze, a Russian revolutionary, was born in 1885

Valery Chkalov, a Soviet pilot, was born in 1904

In 1939, Vladimir Shukhov, a Russian engineer, passed away

In 1943, the Battle of Stalingrad ended

February 3,

In 1238, Batu Khan approached Vladimir

In 1779, Gerold Holtz, a pediatrician, was born 9003 B 9002 born Jacob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, German composer

Alexander Griboedov was arrested in 1826

Hugo Junkers, a German engineer, was born in 1859

In 1938 a secret decree “On the dachas of responsible workers” was issued

In 1959, Buddy Holy, the pioneer of rock and roll, died tragically

In 1966, the first soft landing in history took place

In 1999, a record fine in the history of Internet crimes was paid

on February 4,

In 14002 François Rabelais, French writer, was born

In 1498, the coronation of the grandson of Prince Ivan III of Moscow, Dmitry, took place

In 1688, Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux, French writer, was born

In 1837, the inevitable happened at a ball in St. Petersburg

In 1907, Dmitry Kedrin, a Russian poet, was born

In 1933, Igor Kvasha, a Soviet actor, was born

In 1945, the Crimean Conference of the leaders of the three allied powers of the anti-Hitler coalition opened 1905

Phil Ehart, American drummer, was born

In 1990, 300,000 people demonstrated in support of democratic reforms

In 2007, Ilya Kormiltsev, a Russian poet, died

5 February

In 1721, Peter the Great established the Holy Synod

In 1812, Georges Charles Dantes, a French monarchist, was born

In 1851, Ivan Dmitrievich Sytin, a Russian businessman, was born 003

Alexander Blok wrote lines in 1914

Vasily Vasilyevich Rozanov, Russian writer, died in 1919

Alexander Matveevich Matrosov, Soviet military leader, was born in 1924

In 1926, Theodor Nette, a Soviet diplomatic courier, was killed

In 1936, Charlie Chaplin’s first fully sound film “New Times” was released

February 6,

In 1753, Viscount Evariste-Desire Desforges de Parny was born In 1753 the Japanese ambassador presented Lamzdorf with a note on the severance of diplomatic relations

In 1911, Ronald Wilson Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, was born

In 1920, Ivan Alekseevich Bunin went into exile

Nikolai Starshinov, Russian poet, died in 1998

Carl Wilson, guitarist and vocalist of the American band The Beach Boys, died in 1998

February 7,

Charles Dickens, British writer, was born in 1812

A biscuit shop was opened in 1895 factory Einem Partnership

In 1910 Peter I approved the state budget

In 1914 the stage image of the great Charlie Chaplin was born

Alexander Kolchak was shot in 1920

Konstantin Feoktistov, pilot-cosmonaut, was born in 1926

Vladimir Kuts, a Soviet athlete, was born in 1927

In 1943, Dmitry Kedrin wrote a poem “Frost on the windows”

Maria was executed on February 8,

tuart , Queen of Scots

Peter I died in 1725

Dmitry Mendeleev, Russian scientist, was born in 1834

Chester Carlson, inventor of the photocopying process, was born in 1906

In 1919, the Decree of the Council of People’s Commissars of the RSFSR “On the introduction of timekeeping according to the international system of time zones” was published

In 1949, Irina Muravyova, a Soviet actress, was born

February 9,

In 1441, Alisher Navoi, an Uzbek poet, was born 9003 B 1818 Nikolai Karamzin’s “History of the Russian State” was published

Alfons Shanyavsky, a public figure, was born in 1837

The first weather map appeared in 1855

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, Russian writer, died in 1881

Vasily Ivanovich Chapaev, hero of the Civil War, was born in 1887

Famous personalities died in different years

In 1992, Viktor Anpilov led a protest march against the policies of the government of Yegor Gaidar

February 10

In 1636, the first written mention of the iron in Russia was made

In 1728, Peter III was born

In 1763, Catherine II arranges a big holiday

In 1776, James Cook asks permission to lead an expedition

In 1784, the naval port and fortress on the Black Sea is named “Sevastopol”

In 1837, Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, the great poet, passed away Kaledin called on the Don Cossacks to fight the Bolsheviks

February 11

In 1650, René Descartes, the great French thinker, died

In 1720, Efim Nikonov started building a “secret ship”

In 1761 Michael Kasler traveled on the first bicycle he invented himself

William Henry Fox Talbot, an English chemist, was born in 1800

Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov, a Russian diplomat, was killed in 1829 Thomas Edison, a brilliant inventor

Valya Kotik, a pioneer hero, was born in 1930

Mary Quant, a British designer, was born in 1934

February 12,

In 1717, Peter I ordered to build houses in the new capital – St. 0003

Ivan Pososhkov, the first Russian economist, died in 1726

Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States, was born in 1809 Pavlova, Russian ballerina

Olga Voronets, Russian singer, was born in 1926

In 1955, a decision was made to start construction of the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan

Mass riots began in Dushanbe in 1990

February 13

Ivan Andreevich Krylov, Russian publicist, was born in 1769

Vladimir Alekseevich Kornilov, vice-admiral, was born in 1806 »

In 1940, the last author’s revision was made in the novel “The Master and Margarita”

In 1942, the Decree “On the mobilization of the able-bodied urban population for work in production and construction for the wartime period” was issued

In 1945, bombers turned the city of Dresden into a fiery torch

In 1947, Tatyana Anatolyevna Tarasova was born, figure skating coach

In 1956, the first Soviet scientific station in Antarctica “Mirny”

ministries

Pier-Luigi Collina, football referee and showman, born in 1960

14 February

Francesco Cavalli, Italian composer, born in 1602

In 1610, the boyar group of “Tushins” concluded an agreement with the Polish king Sigismund III

In 1779, James Cook, the British discoverer, died

Vsevolod Mikhailovich Garshin, a Russian writer, was born in 1855 statesman

Anna German, pop singer, was born in 1936

The XX Congress of the CPSU opened in 1956

In 1987 Dmitry Kabalevsky, composer and teacher, died

In 1995 the authorities announced a tightening of the birth control policy

February 15

Galileo Galilei, an Italian physicist, was born in 1564

King Louis XV was born in 1710

3

Morvazov was born in 1862 0002 Vasily Agapkin, Russian conductor and composer, was born in 1884

Newspapers published the following

16 February

In 1799, the two-year disgrace of the legendary commander ended

Nikolai Leskov, Russian writer, was born in 1831

Mikhail Nikolayevich Tukhachevsky, Soviet military commander, was born in 1893

Winston Churchill’s novel “Savrola” was published in 1900

Vera Menchik, the first world chess champion, was born in 1906

In 1912, Archbishop Nicholas died

In 1922, the English archaeologist Howard Carter found the tomb of Tutankhamen

In 1934, Eduard Bagritsky, a Russian poet, died

Irina Epifanova, pop singer, was born in 1970

Vladimir Migulya, a Soviet musician, died in 1996

February 17,

Baptiste Poquelin, French writer

Empress Anna Ioannovna had a fun in 1740

Physician René Theophile Laennec was born in 1781

Count Fyodor Ivanovich Tolstoy was born in 1782

In 1813, the “Combat Silver Medal of 1812” was established in Russia

In 1867, Pyotr Petrovich Schmidt, a Russian revolutionary, was born

In 1906, Agniya Barto, a children’s writer, was born

In 1947, Vyacheslav Malezhik was born

February 18

In 1386 the Lithuanian prince Jagiello married the Polish princess Jadwiga

Alessandro Volta, an Italian scientist, was born in 1745

Alexei Gavrilovich Venetsianov, a Russian artist, was born in 1780

Enzo Anselmo Ferrari, famous car builder, born in 1898

Alexander Zarchi, director and playwright, born in 1908

In 1942, the premiere of the film “The Defeat of German Troops near Moscow” took place

1953 was born Arkady Ukupnik, Soviet composer

John Travolta, American actor, born 54

Grigory Nelyubov, Russian pilot, passed away in 1966

In 1969, the first public screening of Andrei Tarkovsky’s film was organized at the Cinema House

In 1986, the Pushkin Museum was opened in the house on the Arbat

19 February

In 1593, Charles Clusius received a gift of tulip bulbs

In 1651, the church reform of Patriarch Nikon began

In 1717, David Garrick, an English actor, was born

Constantin Brancusi, a Romanian sculptor, was born in 1876

The Battle Creek company specializing in the production of cereals was registered in 1906

In 1910, James Brady stunned his guests at a party

In 1933, theater actress Elsa Legde was born and cinema

Boris Pugo, Soviet statesman, was born in 1937

In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Order No. 9066

on February 20

Petersburg University was founded in 1819

In 1859 the Governor of Orenburg Baranovsky sent a report to the Minister of Finance Knyazhevich

In 1962 the first American, John Glenn, flew into space

In 1986 the USSR launched the orbital station 903 Mir 28 February

In 1792, in the Italian town of Pesaro, Gioacchino Rossini, a classic of the Italian opera school, was born.

In 1821, the great French actress Eliza Rachel was born.

In 1840 in St. Petersburg at a ball, Lieutenant of the Life Guards of the Hussar Regiment Mikhail Lermontov and the son of the French envoy to Russia Erne collided

In 1866 Vyacheslav Ivanov, a symbolist poet, translator, playwright and literary critic, was born in Moscow

B 1915 in the German ring in the August forests of East Prussia, the rear guard of the 20th corps of the 10th Russian army died

In 1980, Garik “Bulldog” Kharlamov, a Russian comedian and TV presenter, was born in Moscow

In 1988, an Armenian pogrom took place in the Azerbaijani city of Sumgait

February 29,

In 1504, during his fourth voyage, Christopher Columbus managed to deceive the natives of Jamaica with the help of a lunar eclipse

In 1868, the Bavarian king died in Nice at the age of 82 Ludwig the First

In 1904, the famous American musician and bandleader Glenn Miller was born

In 1940, American film actress Hattie McDaniel became the first black woman to be awarded an Oscar

The outstanding Italian composer Ruggero Leoncavallo was born in 1857

The merchant-entrepreneur Vasily Kokorev was born in 1817

In 1922 historian Mikhail Gershenzon wrote to his friend from Russia to Paris

In 1906 Nicholas II approved the Fundamental Laws of the Russian Empire

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov wrote to his brother Alexander in 1889

French actress and singer Véronique Sanson was born in 1949

English sailor Francis Beaufort was born in 1774

In 1771, the largest tsunami wave 85 meters high was recorded near the Japanese island of Ishigaki

In 1877, Alexander II signed a manifesto declaring war on the Ottoman Empire

In 1682, the “furious” archpriest Avvakum was burned alive

Calendar of events: February

February 9

1904.

The Russo-Japanese war began

The city of Tomsk did not remain aloof from the Russo-Japanese war. This material contains information about the participation of the Tomsk regiment in the battles, as well as the most interesting publications about the Russian-Japanese war from the library’s collection.

More

February 17

1925. The Society for the Study of the Tomsk Territory was established at the regional museum

lack of explicit dictate from the authorities. An important event in the development of Tomsk local history was the creation of the Society for the Study of the Tomsk Territory.

More

February 18

1888. Kazimir Kazimirovich Zelenevsky, Russian artist, graphic artist, graphic artist

, was born Zelenevsky became a European-famous artist, his name is included in the main dictionaries and reference books dedicated to the fine arts of Europe. In his hometown of Tomsk, his name was undeservedly forgotten for many years.

More

1911. The writer Galina Evgenievna Nikolaeva was born

Nikolaeva became widely known for her novel Harvest. He was awarded the Stalin Prize. But the pinnacle of Galina Nikolaeva’s work was the novel “Battle on the Road”. Based on her books, the films “The Return of Vasily Bortnikov”, “In the Silence of the Steppe”, “Battle on the Road” were shot.

More

February 22

1823. Vsevolod Ivanovich Vagin, Russian historian, public figure, publicist, was born

Among the outstanding Siberians of the second half of the 19th century, who did a lot for the development of the region, V. I. Vagin has a place of honor. He knew Siberia not from the stories of experienced people, but during his service he himself visited and lived in various parts of it.

More

February 27

1845. American journalist, author of books about Siberia and Siberian exile George Kennan was born

At the end of the 19th century, Kennan, accompanied by his friend George Frost, made a journey through Siberia that took 16 months.